Liam Payne's family breaks silence as they are 'devastated' over his death

Liam Payne's parents left their home in Wolverhampton in the middle of the night after the singer's tragic death

The Payne family are said to be "devastated" in the wake of One Direction singer Liam's tragic passing in Argentina on Wednesday. Geoff and Karen Payne, Liam's parents, were reported to have urgently left their Wolverhampton home during the night after they received the dreadful news.

On Thursday, the family home in Codsall was silent, with curtains drawn tightly. When approached for a statement, one family member said: "We're obviously devastated at the news but we don't want to comment."

A local shared their observation of the hurried departure last night, noting: "They were seen leaving in a hurry at around midnight last night but I'm not sure if they had bags.

"You can't imagine what they are going through. I know Liam liked to get back here when he could. They will be utterly heartbroken as they very close. His home town always had a place in his heart. The community is going to be devastated. I think the sisters are there now, your heart goes out to them," reports the Mirror.

Another nearby resident remarked: "I think they left last night at around 12pm. The parents aren't here. All I can say really is condolences to them.", reports the Express.

The community of Liam's hometown continues to show an outpouring of grief and respect for the young performer. The star, who developed his love for the stage at St Peter's Collegiate Academy in Compton and later honed his craft at Wolverhampton College, became widely known after his appearance on X Factor as a teenager.

St Peter's Collegiate Academy expressed their sorrow in a statement: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our former student, Liam Payne. During his time at St Peter's Collegiate Academy, Liam was not only well-liked by his peers and teachers but also recognised for his talents.

"He made a positive impact on our school community, and his contributions will be remembered. Our thoughts are with Liam's family and friends during this difficult time. We extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by his passing."